Bodying agent for liquid hydrocarbons



Patented Dec. 11, 1945 2,390,609

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE *Bonrmo AGENT FOR LIQUID urnaocmons Arthur Minlch, Mountainside, N. 1., asslgnor to Nuodex Products 00., Inc., Elizabeth, N. L, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application July 29, 1942, Serial No. 452,758

1 Claim. (Cl. 252-316) This invention is directed to the production 01 minum soap of the foregoing acids and water a bodying agent for increasing the viscosity of and by-product salts. Iallowedthistosettle and liquid hydrocarbons and more especially liquid thereafter separated by washing or filtration or hydrocarbon fuels. The invention is particularly by both. The product when dried was a granuusefu1 in forming such liquid hydrocarbons into 5 lated material which could be readily powdered. gels. It has been employed with complete satis- EXAMPLE 2 faction in forming gels from hydrocarbons throughout the range of the heavier hydrocar- Solution A bons, such as high viscosity oils, including lubri- To 116 pounds of 25% caustic soda solution in eating oils to the lighter hydrocarbons, such as water were added 500 pounds of water under mineral spirits and like light naphthase agitation, and 50 pounds of synthetic fatty acid of speaking generally the bodymg agent of this 300-320 acid number, and 50 pounds of naphinvention comprises a reaction product of an theme acid aqueous solution of an alkali soap of naphtheni'c A Solution 3 acid and at least one mono basic fatty acid, selo lected from the group consisting of oleic acid, i g g $g ffig gg f were cocoanut fatty acids, capric acid, hydrogenated p solution B was 3 into Solution Awhile rosin synthetic fatty acid, and Z-ethylhexoic agitated and agitation was continued to complete acid, carrying free and unreacted hydroxide, with re Von to for a ag a of a olublek an aqueous solution of a water-soluble aluminum 20- salt in suflicient quantity to react the alkali soap g 3 5 i 2?; Sam s and the other alkali hydroxide, so that the end an 858 were a We to settle, as in Example 1, and the product was gfgg ghmgg agent constituents hydmxy dried to form a granular hydroxy end product.

The method by means of which this soap is EXAMPLE3 produced is, of the double decomposition type. solution A By way of example, I have practised th method Grams of this invention as follows 25% caustic soda solution in water 124 EXAMPLE 1 80 Water 600 SolutionA Z-ethylhexoic acid 50 Naphthenic a i 50 70 pounds of flake caustic soda was dissolved in 260 gallons of water, then while agitating this solution 3 solution, there was added 66 pounds of naph- 3 5 grams aluminum sulphate in 400 grams thenic acid, 232 pounds of cocoanut fatty acids, g-

and 66 pounds of oleic acids a result I Solutions A and B were reacted as in Examples tained a solution of a sodium soap of the fore- 1 and 2 and dried t produce granular t going acids and free unreacted alkali hydroxide, insoluble hydroxy aluminum soap f i. e-. fre s di hydro de o hexoic acid and naphthenic acid.

Solution B EXAMPLE 4 In a separate container I dissolved 198 pounds Solution A of aluminum sulphate crystals in 25 gallons of water. Grams I then slowly ran Solution B into Solution A 25% caustic soda solution in water 82% while the latter was agitated and I continued Water 700 agitation between one-half hour to one hour to Hydrogenated rosin 25 complete reaction and form therefrom a magma Naphthenic acid 25 consisting of a water-insoluble hydroxy alu- Oleic a 50 Solutz'on B 57% grams of aluminum sulphate in 300 grams of water.

Solutions A and B were reacted as in Example 1 to produce dry granular hydroxy aluminum soap of the said three acids.

Solution B 69 grams of aluminum sulphate dissolved I 360 grams of water.

Solutions A and B were reacted as in Example] varied within considerable ranges without producing inoperative results, but the proportions given have been found to be highly satisfactory.

Furthermore the amount of the granular bodying.

agent added to the liquid hydrocarbons to gel or body the same will of course depend upon the viscosityincrease desired for it will take less of the material to body a normally heavy high viscosity liquid than one of lower viscosity. The amount of the bodying material used therefore will be chosen according to the increase in viscosity, desired therein, tage between 1 and 15% by weightyunder various conditions with complete satisfaction.

' An important feature of the invention consists in producing and employing a hydroxy aluminum salt of a mixture or blend of naphthenic acid 1 to yield dry granular hydroxy aluminum soap of the same acids.

Solution'B 780 grams of aluminum sulphate solution in 3000 grams of water.

Solutions A and B were reacted as in Example 1 to produce granular hydroxy aluminum soap of the foregoingacids.

In using the bodying agents produced according to the foregoing examples, I add a quantity of the agent to the hydrocarbon liquid to be treated, while the liquid is agitated and I continue agitation from 20 minutes to one hour, to effect solvation. This action may be facilitated by heating the liquid, but when this heating is used, the temperature should be below the decomposition temperature of the hydroxide. In practice the heating may be conveniently around 200 F. The amounts of the various acids in Solution A are not critical. They have been with suitable fatty acids which latter are of such nature that the resulting hydroxy aluminum soap when in granular or powdered form will not decompose upon exposure to air or seriously oxidize and will carry out its bodying action emclently. All fatty acids will not conform with these requirements, but I have found that a mixture of naphthenic acid with one or more of the mono basic fatty acids, hereinbefore specifically referred to will give very superior results.

I am of course aware that aluminum soaps of naphthenic acid have heretofore been used as bodying agents, but a hydroxy aluminum soap formed from a mixture of naphthenic acid with the mono basic fatty acids of the group to which I have referred gives very superior results. I

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical form, but

the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claim.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and'desire to secure by Letters 40 Patent is: i

I have used to advan- 

